Our Top ENCARSIAforce™ (Encarsia formosa)

ENCAR/ERETforce™ – whitefly parasite mix 100 per card (5,000/ 10,000/ 15,000)

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ENCARSIAforce™ – whitefly parasite 100 per card (10,000/ 15,000)

$94.95

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ENCARSIAforce™ – whitefly parasite 50 per card (3,000/ 7,500)

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ENCARSIAforce™ (Encarsia formosa)

A specialist parasitic wasp that targets the greenhouse whitefly and other Trialeurodes species.

What it targets

ENCARSIAforce™ targets the 2nd–4th instar nymphs of the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum. It works best preventatively or at low-to-moderate pressure — when enough nymphs are in the canopy to sustain an in-crop generation.

On Bemisia tabaci-dominated outbreaks, run Encarsia alongside Eretmocerus eremicus on the same hanger cards. For heavier pressure, add Chrysoperla larvae as a faster knock-down layer.

Encarsia formosa adult parasitic wasp on a leaf — *Encarsia formosa* adult — a ~1 mm parasitic wasp with a darker head and translucent body.

How it works

Encarsia formosa is a specialist endoparasitoid. The female lays a single egg inside a 2nd–4th instar whitefly nymph; the larva develops inside over 2–4 days, then pupates as the nymph's exoskeleton blackens — the scouting signature.

Adults emerge through a clean, submarine-style hole. Each female lays 150–200 eggs over her lifetime, and reproduction is parthenogenetic — every released wasp produces the next generation. Operates best at 68–77°F and ≤70% RH.

Adult Encarsia formosa next to a parasitized whitefly scale showing the diagnostic submarine emergence hole — Adult *Encarsia formosa* beside a parasitized whitefly scale — note the round, submarine-style emergence hole, the field signature growers scout for.

Crops, environments, and climate

Crops it supports

Vegetable crops Soft fruits Ornamentals Hemp / Cannabis

Environments

Greenhouses Indoor facilities Field & row crops Interiorscapes Gardens

Storage

Don't cold-store. Release as soon as possible after arrival. If a brief hold is unavoidable, keep cards or vials at 45–50°F in the dark for no more than 18 hours, then warm slowly to ambient before release.

Instructions of use

Cards (with pupae)

Release in the cool of morning or evening — skip hot, dry mid-day. Hold cards in a cool, dark space until release to preserve development time.

Fold strips along the perforations; tearing knocks pupae loose. Hang cards inside the canopy, shaded from direct sun and irrigation, distributed evenly or concentrated at hot spots. Leave undisturbed 21 days for full emergence.

For mobile placement, growers often build simple release stations: a bamboo stake, a bread-tie hook, and an inverted cup as a sun shade — easy to relocate as pressure shifts.

Blister packs (with pupae)

Same windows and placement as cards. The plastic bubble shields pupae from overhead irrigation, which makes blisters the preferred format for top-watered crops.

Vials (with pupae)

Distribute loose pupae through release boxes or canopy hangers. Shield from sun and rain during emergence.

Monitoring & advisories

Monitor for

Blackened whitefly nymphs — the diagnostic signature of an Encarsia-parasitized scale.
Parasitized nymphs 10–14 days after release; lower canopy first.
Ovipositor wound marks on healthy-looking nymphs — proof a female has been working that leaf.
Round, submarine-style emergence holes (Encarsia) vs. T-shaped slits (unparasitized whitefly).
Pupae on incoming cards, blisters, or vials — easiest stage to count against your rate.

Advisories

Pull yellow sticky cards at release — they mass-trap emerging adults.
Suppress ants first; they defend whiteflies for the honeydew and harass parasitoids.
Wash heavy honeydew with a low-pressure soap spray to keep wasps clean and active.
Adults stop flying below ~62°F — release on warmer days.
Release sites need ≥650 footcandles. Intensity matters, not photoperiod; a sunny greenhouse meets this easily.
Adults are fast and tuck under leaves — rely on the blackened-scale signal, not on spotting foragers.

Release rates — for conventional crops

Format	Rate	Interval
Cards recommended	0.25–0.5 parasitoids / sq. ft.	Bi-weekly, as needed
Blister packs overhead irrigation	0.25–0.5 parasitoids / sq. ft.	Bi-weekly, as needed
Scout lower-canopy leaves for blackened scales 10–14 days after release. Don't strip them before emergence — in-crop breeding sustains control through the season.

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Cannabis Alert

Conventional release rates are usually not sufficient for cannabis growers. For a cannabis-specific schedule, call 1.855.289.1441 or email staff@greenmethods.com.

Life cycle

Egg to adult: 18–21 days in optimal greenhouse conditions. Each female lays 150–200 eggs across her active lifetime, all developing into female wasps under standard rearing.

Egg

~2–4 days inside host

Larva

Consumes host internals

Pupa (black scale)

Field-visible signature

Adult

~1 mm · emerges day 18–21

Disclosures

Live-product policy. Beneficial Insectary guarantees live delivery. Report any compromised shipment within 24 hours of receipt — before releasing organisms with viability concerns — to qualify for replacement or credit. Don't discard the product; the shipment may be requested for analysis.

Establishment of biocontrol agents. Multiple variables affect BCA performance in commercial crops — pesticide residues, irrigation practices, storage handling, photoperiod, and pest or pollen availability. Long- and short-term establishment after release isn't guaranteed; no refunds, discounts, or credits on released product. The live-product policy above still applies.